Attempt at...the start of a more systematic look at the evidence....

Earliest published document of the song, to my knowledge:

1888[June 1887]        Smith, Laura Alexandrine. _The Music of the Waters_. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co.

Calls it a capstan song.

I give the melody as I got it from a coloured seaman at the “Home,â€쳌 together with a verbatim copy of his verses :â€"

[W/ score - starts with grand chorus. I've parsed the verses, below.]

Solo.â€"South Australia is my native home,
Chorus.â€"Heave away! Heave away!
Solo.â€"South Australia, &c.
Chorus.â€"I am bound to South Australia,
Heave away! Heave away!
Heave away, you ruler king,
I am bound to South Australia.

Solo.â€"There ain't but the one thing grieves my mind,
Chorus.â€"Heave, &c.
Solo.â€"To leave my dear wife and child behind.
Chorus.â€"I am bound, &c.

Solo.â€"I see my wife standing on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me.

When I am on a foreign shore,
I'll think of the wife that I adore.

Those crosses you see at the bottom of the lines,
Are only to put me in mind.

As I was standing on the pier,
A fair young maid to me appeared.

As I am standing on a foreign shore,
I'll drink to the girl that I adore.

For I'll tell you the truth, and I'll tell you no lie,
If I don't love that girl I hope I may die.

Liza Lee, she promised me,
When I returned she would marry me.

And now I am on a foreign strand,
With a glass of whisky in my hand;

And I'll drink a glass to the foreign shore,
And one to the girl that I adore.

When I am homeward bound again,
My name I'll publish on the main.

With a good ship and a jolly crew,
A good captain and chief mate, too,

Now fare thee well, fare thee well,
For sweet news to my girl I'll tell.

Note -- and this is important -- that the tune is such that, in the first short chorus, the rhythmic emphasis (first beat of bars) comes not on HEAVE away, HEAVE away, but rather as 'heave a-WAY, heave a-WAY".